While you can plan a relatively easy and budget-friendly move with enough time, packing everything you own may still be overwhelming. It‘s an even more exhausting experience if you’re short on time.

But with a solid plan and strong follow-through, you can pull off a last-minute move. Using the schedule outlined below, you can condense your moving to-do list into a single week of work.

Day 1: Prepare

Don’t just panic and start throwing things in boxes. Start your week with a deep, calming breath and remind yourself that you can do this. Then begin preparing for your move. The first day will consist of phone calls, paperwork, administrative tasks, and a quick shopping trip. Here’s what to do six days before your move:

Plan the Week Ahead of You

Use a moving planner, notebook, folder, or binder—or a spreadsheet or planner app if you prefer to keep digital records. The goal is to keep everything move-related in one place so that it’s organized and easy to find.

Buy Packing and Moving Materials

Briefly take stock of what you own and the materials you need to pack. In addition to moving boxes, you might need bubble wrap, packing paper, plastic stretch wrap, and packing tape. You can buy what you need directly from a moving or truck rental company, or explore other ways to get moving boxes. Stores such as Walmart, The Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Office Depot also carry packing supplies.

Call a Moving Company

Decide whether you want to rent a moving truck or hire a full-service moving company, then call around. With a week or less to move, you’ll have to hire last-minute movers. Your options may be limited, and prices will be higher than they would be if you booked a month or two in advance. If you have the time and patience, it’s best to request quotes from at least three companies before booking your move. 

Ask Friends and Family for Help

Ask local friends and family members if they can pitch in; it will save you time and money and make the process more enjoyable. Remember to show your appreciation. For example, you may offer a free meal and drinks in exchange for moving help.

Transfer Your Utilities

Contact all of your current utility companies and tell them your move-out date and new address so they can send you your final bill. Then set up accounts with the utility companies for your new home. Examples include natural gas, electricity, water, internet, and trash pickup.

Set Up Mail Forwarding

You can change your address online at the USPS website in a matter of minutes. In many cases, your mail forwarding will begin within three business days of submitting your request. However, it can take up to two weeks. For a last-minute move, it may be worth changing your address in person at your local post office instead.

Hire Any Additional Services

Long-distance moving companies offer services to make your move easier, including full or partial packing and cleaning services. If you have the budget for it, professional packers will greatly reduce the time needed to prepare for a move. Other available services include auto transport, pet relocation, furniture assembly, unpacking, and appliance installation. Although truck rental companies typically do not offer in-house moving services, they can often refer you to local companies that do.

Days 2–3: Organize

Days two and three will involve more hands-on work than day one, as you’ll spend these days getting organized. Doing this first will make it much easier to actually put things in boxes. Here’s what to do four and five days before your move:

Focus on One Room at a Time

Either start with the easiest room to build momentum or get your largest room out of the way first. The order is up to you, but it’s important to finish organizing one room before moving on to the next.

Get Rid of Items You Don’t Need, Use, or Want

Go through everything in each room and purge as you go. Downsizing and decluttering will make the rest of the moving process easier, as you’ll simply have less stuff to deal with.

Take Inventory

If you hire a full-service mover or plan to purchase moving insurance, take inventory as you go. This will help you determine if anything gets lost or damaged during the move.

Group Similar Items Together

Sort your belongings into groups. Organize them in a way that will make packing, unpacking, and finding what you need easier. For instance, you might plan to pack kitchen decorations in a different box than kitchen towels, utensils, and tools.

Donate Unwanted Items

With less than a week to move, you may not have time to sell anything, but you can still donate gently used items to Goodwill, The Salvation Army, or other nonprofits.

Save Any Unused Containers or Boxes for Packing

If you come across any empty totes, cardboard boxes, or other containers, save them. You might also set aside towels, blankets, and other household linens to use in place of bubble wrap and packing paper.

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Days 4–5: Pack

Now that you’ve sorted your belongings, it’s time to pack. Here’s what to do two and three days before your move:

Pack One Room at a Time

Just as you did when organizing, focus on one room at a time, starting with the least-used room or storage spaces like the attic or basement. When you get to rooms that you use daily, like packing the kitchen, pack non-essential items first.

Pack Similar Items Together

With so little time to pack, it may be tempting to simply throw things into boxes as quickly as possible. Resist that urge and carefully pack similar items together. Your future self will appreciate the effort.

Label Your Boxes Clearly

On the outside of each box, indicate which room it belongs in and what’s inside. Once everything in a room is packed, you can number the boxes so that you know how many each room has. For instance, if you packed two boxes in your master bathroom, write “1 of 2” on one and “2 of 2” on the other.

Keep an Inventory of Important Items

Make note in your planner of where particularly important or valuable items end up. Identify the item and the box label—for example, “Cutting board: kitchen box 2/4.”

Carefully Wrap Fragile Items

Wrap newspaper, cardboard, bubble wrap, or another material around breakable items. If you’re not confident that you can safely pack fragile items, consider paying for partial or fragile-only packing services.

Pack a Suitcase of Essentials

Put everything you will need while traveling and during the first night at your new place into a suitcase and keep it with you throughout the move.

Store Boxes Neatly After Each Room Is Emptied

Once you finish with a room, stack the boxes neatly. This will streamline the loading process.

Carefully Store Any Bags of Screws or Parts

Some items, such as desks or bed frames, may need to be fully or partially disassembled before moving. To avoid losing any pieces, pack screws and other small parts into a plastic bag and attach it to a larger piece with packing tape.

Keep Cleaning Supplies Accessible

Make sure you don’t pack any of the cleaning supplies you will need to deep clean your home.

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Day 6: Deep Clean

By the sixth day, you should have everything packed and ready to go. Then, you can move on to cleaning, which is especially important if you are moving out of a rental house or apartment and want to get your deposit refunded. Here’s what to do on the last day before your move:

Clean One Room at a Time

Just like you did with organizing and packing, clean only one room at a time. Make a list and check off each room as you go.

Vacuum and Mop the Floors

Once the bulk of the cleaning is done, clean the floors thoroughly with a vacuum. For hardwood floors, follow up with a dust mop and a wet mop or steam cleaner. Consider renting a carpet cleaner for carpeted rooms.

Wipe Down the Kitchen Cabinets, Sink, and Counters

Use a gentle cleaner and cloth to wipe the inside and outside of your kitchen cabinets. Thoroughly clean the sink and countertops, too.

Clean Out Appliances

Cleaning out the refrigerator is probably the most important step. However, you should also clean out any other appliances that will be left behind, such as the oven and dishwasher.

Make Sure No Food Is Left Behind

If you diligently cleaned out your cabinets and refrigerator, you may have already covered this step. However, it’s worth taking a second look. Check storage closets and pantries, too.

Wipe Down Windows and Trim

This includes any built-in shelves, crown molding, windowsills, baseboards, and door frames. You might also need to clean any window treatments, such as blinds or curtains, that you will leave behind.

Clean the Bathrooms

Clean out storage spaces and wipe down the bathroom cabinets and counters. Clean the sinks, bathtubs, toilets, mirrors, and showers.

Clean Any Areas That Were Previously Inaccessible

Pay extra attention to areas that were difficult or impossible to clean before, such as your now-empty closets and cabinets.

Take Out the Trash

Once everything has been thoroughly cleaned, take out the trash.

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Day 7: Move

Although you’ll have already done most of the work, you’ll still have a few more responsibilities. Here’s what to do on the big day:

Let the Movers Do Their Job, or Ask for Help

If you paid movers to load your rental truck or hired one of the top local or top interstate moving companies, let them handle the heavy lifting of items you are paying them to move. If you didn’t hire movers, recruit friends or family to help you move large pieces of furniture. Absolutely do not move large items by yourself if you cannot safely do so. The middle of a move is not the time to test your limits.

Do a Final Lap Around Your Home

Walk through your home one last time to ensure you haven’t left anything behind.

Pack Any Remaining Items in Your Car

You are responsible for loading your car with any remaining items that will be traveling with you. This includes your suitcase full of essentials and any valuables or keepsakes you didn’t want to entrust to the movers.

Turn Off the Lights and Lock the Doors

Before you leave, turn off the lights in every room. You should also make sure all windows and doors are locked.

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Our Conclusion

A last-minute move will undoubtedly feel more rushed and overwhelming than a move you had months to plan. However, it is entirely possible to organize, pack, and clean your entire house in less than a week—especially if you enlist the help of friends, family, or professional movers. Just follow the steps above, and take things one day (and room) at a time.

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FAQ About Packing Your House in One Week

What is the fastest way to pack for moving?

The fastest way to pack for moving is to hire professional packing services. However, if you don’t have the budget for this, make a plan, organize your home room by room, and then pack quickly.

Is it possible to move out in one week?

It is possible to pack and move a household full of belongings in a week, but it requires planning, focus, and organization.

How far ahead of a move should I start packing?

Ideally, you should start packing up your home at least six weeks before moving, starting with the items you don’t use very often. However, it’s possible to pack a home in a week if you need to.

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